San Diego’s U.S. Air Guitar Champion: Lt. Facemelter | Episode 281

In this episode of the Living in San Diego Podcast, Chris and Cass sit down with Jason Farnan, better known as Lieutenant Facemelter, the 2013 U.S. National Air Guitar Champion.Jason gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the wild world of competitive air guitar, from local San Diego competitions to the U.S. Nationals and the Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland. We talk about how routines are judged, what “airness” actually means, the costumes, the stage personas, and why this fringe art form is a lot more serious than people might think.We also get into Jason’s story of moving from Rochester, New York to San Diego, how the documentary Air Guitar Nation pulled him into the scene, and what it has been like performing as Lieutenant Facemelter for more than a decade.Plus, Jason shares another side of his career as a professional graphic and UX designer, including the story behind creating a trumpet-themed logo for New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz that ended up being sold as official merchandise at Citi Field.And if you’re in San Diego, there’s an upcoming San Diego Air Guitar competition happening Saturday, May 30th at 7:00 PM at Booze Brothers Brewing Company in Vista. It’s free, all-ages, and open to new competitors.LINKS: Event (FREE): https://www.instagram.com/p/DWvGvW3lCNh/ Lt. Facemelter: https://www.instagram.com/ltfacemelter/SD Air Guitar: https://www.instagram.com/sdairguitar/US Air Guitar: https://www.instagram.com/usairguitar/Lt. Facemelter World Championship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMRWGzVYJkARandy Diablo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt4WwI3c0rs🎙️ Livin’ in San Diego – Your go-to podcast for all things San Diego! Join Chris and Cassidy as they explore the best of America’s Finest City—what they're up to, what to do, and the people who make this place special. We’ll share our own experiences and bring on local guests to tell their stories, from business owners and creatives to community leaders and longtime locals. Whether you’re a San Diego native or just curious about the lifestyle here, tune in weekly for laid-back conversations and insider tips on what makes this city shine.Hit us up: [email protected]